Kitty,


I know a man who has been running a small greengrocery service into Southeast London, for more than forty years. He had a well established clientele, and although he wasn't making a fortune, he was able to live comfortably.

Not any more!

£100 per day to carry on his business, was more than his profit, and to bring his single truck up to the necessary emission standard was quoted at £5000.

He is now going to have to survive on a pension, which may involve selling up and looking for a smaller house.

Bear in mind, this is only the first step. The plan is to bring smaller and smaller trucks and vans into this scheme over a period of several years, until eventually it will involve all commercials. That could persuade many companies to get right out of London

We are being told it will not apply to private cars, but of course they could change their minds about that, and in the fullness of time, as they need more and more dosh to finance Red Ken's grandiose schemes, they WILL.

I get very annoyed when non drivers pontificate about car use. My car is NOT a luxury. To get to my work involves driving fifteen miles at right angles to the main routes. To go by public transport involves two hours on four different buses, or 30 miles into London, four miles across on the tube and thirty miles out to my destination.

As a result, I am forced to join the most inordinately overtaxed group in this benighted country. So please don't tell me leave the car at home. I pay through the nose to use it

Does anyone really believe that this is about air quality as opposed to revenue raising?.....I don't think so!


The standard government (national or local)response to a need for cash is cane the poor, the pensioner, the motorist. Has anyone noticed that they never tax the gambler, the lottery winner, or the filthy rich.

Socialism in action, err......NO!

Any genuine socialist would have to vote for Cameron. He is way to the left of Gordon (Lurch) Brown

Don T.